When I connect the USB port from my camcorder to my mac, it does not import onto I-Movie. I don’t know what to do. I have a Sony Handycam DCR-DVD710 and my MacBook is version 10.4.11. Is there something that I need to convert or can my camcorder not download to macs? Please help! Thanks!
How Do I Download A Movie From A Camcorder To My Mac?
Posted by admin on December 13th, 2009
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First make sure you have the right drivers on your mac for your specific camcorder (chances are you do), then plug it in and open finder… your camcorder will be under “devices” open it… find the file you want then drag and drop it into the program you want to use like I-movie. (you might have to save it into another document first… I’m not sure with your specific camcorder… but thats what i do with my camcorder)
That’s not how DVD based camcorders work (for what it is worth, the instructions are the same for Apple or “Windows” machines)…
The first problem is that you should never put a small (8cm) or odd shaped disc in a slot loading optical drive – you will need to get an external drawer loader. I like those from LaCie.
Next, you will “rip” the video from the DVD… so you will need a DVD ripper. I like HandBrakehttp://handbrake.fr/
1) Finalize the DVD in the camcorder. The instructions to do that are in the manual.http://www.docs.sony.com/release/DCRDVD6…
Refer to page 67.
2) When the finalizing is complete, take the disc out of the camcorder and put it in the drawer loading DVD drive connected to your computer.
3) If anything launches automatically (like the DVD player), quit that application.
4) Launch HandBrake. Rip the DVD video file(s) to a format your editor likes (iMovie prefers MOV or MP4).
5) When the ripping is complete, quit HandBrake and launch iMovie.
6) Drag the ripped file to the Capture area or Clips area (you did not tell us which version iMovie) or directly to the time line and edit.
Warning: Consumer grade DVD based camcorders were not meant to have their video edited. The VOB files are VERY compressed – importing and editing will result in poor video quality.
You don’t need to install any software or anything. Macs were made to download items from camera/camcorders and other useful things.
1. make sure your camcorder is on when connected.
2. once connected, there should be a connection option in the menu in iMovie.
If all else fails, check out apple support at http://www.apple.com/
you can take a look at this step by step guide about how to transfer Camcorder video to Final Cut Express, iMovie for editinghttp://www.flash-video-soft.com/blog/?p=…
Hope it helps, email me if you need further help.